(ST. GEORGE, Utah) - The Dixie State University English department and its Alpha Pi Epsilon chapter of the Sigma Tau Delta International Honor Society were presented with a pair of awards at the annual Sigma Tau Delta National Conference held last week in Savannah, Ga.

DSU Associate Professor Dr. AmiJo Comeford was presented with the Conference’s “Elaine W. Hughes Outstanding Sponsor Award,” for her efforts in making DSU’s honors chapter into a national player in the Sigma Tau Delta honors organization. In just five short years, the Alpha Pi Epsilon chapter has been honored as the national “Outstanding Chapter” twice, while Dixie English students have placed first or second in both research and creative work competitions at the annual conference.

“I am so humbled and honored to have been selected for this award,” Comeford said. “To be recognized by a student organization of this caliber is such a tremendous honor because that is why I am here doing what I do – to be a student-centered faculty member who puts student interests and student learning above all else.”

In addition to Comeford’s honor, the DSU chapter was awarded second place at the conference for its “Outstanding Chapter Display,” which showcased the efforts and activities of Dixie State English students over the past year. In all, six current DSU students and three recent graduates represented the university at this year’s competition.

“Our students always present some of the strongest work at the convention,” Comeford noted. “It’s a testament to the quality of faculty and staff in our English Department but more importantly to the personal care and interest that English faculty and staff take in individual students in not only academically preparing the students but mentoring them to become successful with those skills.”

Comeford, who serves as chapter advisor, touted the fact that students participate in a number of on-campus activities to help raise funds to annually travel to the national conference. She added that whether it was a t-shirt or used book sale, or collecting items for a community rummage sale and holding bake sales, DSU students have worked hard, both in and out of the classroom, in order to achieve success at the highest level.

“This speaks to the tremendous talent, diligence, and academic and creative performance of the students in our English program, who not only are among the best and brightest at DSU and in the state of Utah, but among the top honors students in the field of English across the country and across the 850 chapters of Sigma Tau Delta at universities around the world,” Comeford said.

Sigma Tau Delta is the International English Honor Society founded at Dakota Wesleyan University in 1924. Sigma Tau Delta's central purpose is to confer distinction upon students of the English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies. Sigma Tau Delta also recognizes the accomplishments of professional writers who have contributed to the fields of language and literature.

(ST. GEORGE, Utah) - The Dixie State University English department and its Alpha Pi Epsilon chapter of the Sigma Tau Delta International Honor Society were presented with a pair of awards at the annual Sigma Tau Delta National Conference held last week in Savannah, Ga.

DSU Associate Professor Dr. AmiJo Comeford was presented with the Conference’s “Elaine W. Hughes Outstanding Sponsor Award,” for her efforts in making DSU’s honors chapter into a national player in the Sigma Tau Delta honors organization. In just five short years, the Alpha Pi Epsilon chapter has been honored as the national “Outstanding Chapter” twice, while Dixie English students have placed first or second in both research and creative work competitions at the annual conference.

“I am so humbled and honored to have been selected for this award,” Comeford said. “To be recognized by a student organization of this caliber is such a tremendous honor because that is why I am here doing what I do – to be a student-centered faculty member who puts student interests and student learning above all else.”

In addition to Comeford’s honor, the DSU chapter was awarded second place at the conference for its “Outstanding Chapter Display,” which showcased the efforts and activities of Dixie State English students over the past year. In all, six current DSU students and three recent graduates represented the university at this year’s competition.

“Our students always present some of the strongest work at the convention,” Comeford noted. “It’s a testament to the quality of faculty and staff in our English Department but more importantly to the personal care and interest that English faculty and staff take in individual students in not only academically preparing the students but mentoring them to become successful with those skills.”

Comeford, who serves as chapter advisor, touted the fact that students participate in a number of on-campus activities to help raise funds to annually travel to the national conference. She added that whether it was a t-shirt or used book sale, or collecting items for a community rummage sale and holding bake sales, DSU students have worked hard, both in and out of the classroom, in order to achieve success at the highest level.

“This speaks to the tremendous talent, diligence, and academic and creative performance of the students in our English program, who not only are among the best and brightest at DSU and in the state of Utah, but among the top honors students in the field of English across the country and across the 850 chapters of Sigma Tau Delta at universities around the world,” Comeford said.

Sigma Tau Delta is the International English Honor Society founded at Dakota Wesleyan University in 1924. Sigma Tau Delta's central purpose is to confer distinction upon students of the English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies. Sigma Tau Delta also recognizes the accomplishments of professional writers who have contributed to the fields of language and literature.